Picnic

Of course the flowers are beautiful on their own, but why not make it even more magical with a picnic?  After rehearsal today, a large group of us followed our Japanese matron, Akiko, to a river one stop away from HPAC and enjoyed picnic under a beautiful tree. About twenty of us gathered in Thanksgiving style under a white blossomed tree eating bentos, yakisoba, takoyaki, many different types of chips (wasabi, sour plum, pizza...), and cookies.  Along the path we watched children, families with dogs, couples, and schoolchildren, enjoy the beauty of the changing seasons.  And us, a mixed group of nihon- and gaikokujin, filling in our little space in beautiful Japan.